Sights in São Paulo
-
A
Banespa Skyscraper
For one of Sampa's best panoramas, head to the top of the Banespa skyscraper, Brazil's version of the Empire State Building, completed in 1939. Ride free to the observation deck on the top floor for views of the city. Note, you will need some form of ID to sign in.
reviewed
-
B
Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP)
Sampa's pride, the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP) museum possesses Latin America's most comprehensive collection of Western art. Hovering above a concrete plaza that turns into an antiques fair on Sundays, the museum, designed by architect Lina Bo Bardi and completed in 1968, is considered a classic of modernism by many and an abomination by a vocal few. The collection, though, is unimpeachable, and ranges from Goya to El Greco to Manet.
The Impressionist collection is particularly impressive. There are also a few great Brazilian paintings, including three fine works by Cândido Portinari. The museum hosts temporary exhibits, and there is a bright, pleasant cafeteria o…
reviewed
-
C
Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP)
Sampa’s pride, this museum possesses Latin America’s most comprehensive collection of Western art. Hovering above a concrete plaza that turns into an antiques fair on Sundays, the museum, designed by architect Lina Bo Bardi and completed in 1968, is considered a classic of modernism by many and an abomination by a vocal few. The collection, though, is unimpeachable, and ranges from Goya to El Greco to Manet. The impressionist collection is particularly impressive. There are also a few great Brazilian paintings, including three fine works by Cândido Portinari. The museum hosts temporary exhibits, and there is a bright, pleasant cafeteria on the lower level which hosts a …
reviewed
-
D
Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima
Extra-wide Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima (called just 'Faria Lima') marks the southwestern edge of the Jardins neighborhoods, and is the main corridor connecting Pinheiros with the ritzy neighborhoods of Morumbi, Vila Olímpia, Itaim Bibi and Moema. These areas are largely congested streets, forbidding luxury high-rises and glittering complexes that house the majority of the city's most-profitable businesses, from banking to technology.
That said, there are plenty of fine restaurants, nightclubs and shopping opportunities that die-hards may want to seek out. Unfortunately, poor public transport makes a taxi or your own vehicle a necessity.
reviewed
-
E
Parque do Ibirapuera
The biggest green space in central São Paulo, Parque do Ibirapuera makes a fine escape from the city's seemingly infinite stretches of concrete. In addition, the leafy 2-sq-km park serves as a thriving center of the city's cultural life, with a series of museums, performance spaces and the grounds for São Paulo's renowned Bienal.
Inaugurated in 1954 to commemorate the city's 400th anniversary, the park was designed by renowned landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx. A series of landmark buildings in the park are the work of modernist master Oscar Niemeyer; most of them are linked by a long and distinctively serpentine covered walkway.
reviewed
-
F
Museu de Arte Sacra
The best of its kind in Brazil, the Museu de Arte Sacra includes works by renowned 18th-century sculptor Antônio Aleijadinho, along with some 2000 other ecclesiastical works from the 17th to 20th centuries. The museum is housed in the 18th-century Luz monastery, which is one of São Paulo's best-preserved buildings of the period and also a fine example of Portuguese colonial architecture.
The best of its kind in Brazil, this museum includes works by renowned 18th-century sculptor Aleijadinho along with some 2,000 other ecclesiastical works spanning the period from the 17th to 20th centuries.
reviewed
-
G
Edifício Copan
Architecturally remarkable Edifício Copan was designed by modernist master Oscar Niemeyer. The building’s serpentine facade and narrow brises soleil (permanent sunshades) have become a symbol of the city. You can visit its snaking, sloping ground-floor shopping arcade, but the upper floors are made up of private apartments and thus off limits. Note that the leftist architect designed the building to bring together all classes by including sprawling apartments for the rich as well as tiny studios for the working poor – a real rarity in class-conscious São Paulo.
reviewed
-
Instituto Butantan
Highly respected for its groundbreaking biomedical research, this institute is best known as a venom farm. Researchers milk a total of tens of thousands of snakes of their poison, which is used to make antidotes to snake and spider bites, as well as in research for other medicines. Located in the leafy Cidade Universitária, the small museum displays snakes in dozens of shapes and sizes. At the time of research a devastating fire had destroyed almost half a million preserved specimens, though no live animals. Check ahead to ensure that the museum is operating normally.
reviewed
-
H
Bosque da Leitura
A meandering duck pond takes up much of the western half of Parque do Ibirapuera, and around it are arranged a series of shaded walks, including the Bosque da Leitura - a woodsy section that on Sundays turns into an open-air library where you can check out books for the afternoon.
To get the park, take the metro to Vila Mariana station and then bus 775-A 'Jardim Aldagiza.' There are lots of snack stands throughout the park, or you can get a full meal at the Green, between the Museu de Arte Moderna and the Museu Afro-Brasil, which serves a hearty per-kilo buffet.
reviewed
-
I
Instituto Butantan
One of the city's most popular attractions - at least among non-ophidophobes - this institute is internationally respected for its ground-breaking biomedical research. However, the biggest draw is its venom farm - researchers milk some 1000 snakes of their poison, which is then used to make antidotes to snake and spider bites, as well as in research for other medicines.
You can see the snakes in their cages, which attempt to recreate their native habitat - because apparently happy snakes produce more poison. Yet further proof the universe has a sense of humor!
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
Páteo do Colégio
Just up the street from Solar da Marquesa lies a mission that occupies the exact spot where São Paulo was founded in 1554 by Jesuit brothers José de Anchieta and Manoel da Nóbregra. The current structure is actually a 1950s replica of the monastery that once stood here, although inside it does possess a nice little collection of original relics from the city’s first days, as well as an interesting set of drawings that chart the city’s growth over the last five centuries. The museum’s café also makes for a tranquil pit stop.
reviewed
-
Museu de Arte Sacra
The best of its kind in Brazil, this museum includes works by renowned 18th-century sculptor Antônio Aleijadinho, along with some 200 other ecclesiastical works from the 17th to 20th centuries. The museum is housed in the 18th-century Luz monastery, which is one of São Paulo’s best-preserved buildings of the period and also a fine example of Portuguese colonial architecture. A new annex houses an amazingly large and elaborate Neapolitan manger scene, plus a collection of other manger scenes from around the world.
reviewed
-
Auditório Ibirapuera
The Parque do Ibirapuera’s most recent addition, the Auditório Ibirapuera is a Niemeyer design that dates to the park’s founding, though it was only completed five decades later, in 2005. Nicknamed ‘a língua’ (‘the tongue’) for the bright-red metal awning that sticks out rather lewdly from an otherwise bunkerlike concrete trapezoid, the hall hosts a wide variety of musical styles, from classical to experimental. Concert bookings can be made through Ticketmaster Brasil.
reviewed
-
Museu do Ipiranga
Set amid Versailles-like gardens in the eastern suburb of Ipiranga, this museum began its life as a memorial to Brazil’s independence from Portugal. According to legend, Dom Pedro declared independence on the shores of a nearby stream. The gardens and palace are the real treat here, as are the fine vistas that its hilltop position affords. The collection, documenting the independence movement as well as Brazilian history, is of more modest interest. Signage in Portuguese only.
reviewed
-
K
Centro Brasileiro de Estudos Latino Americano
Centro Brasileiro de Estudos Latino Americano (CBEAL) is a cultural and research foundation, housed in the Memorial da América Latina complex. It includes an auditorium that stages free concerts, and various interesting handicraft exhibits from regional Brazil and other Latin American countries. Cândido Portinari's painting Tiradentes hangs in the Salão de Atos, and huge panels by Carybé and Poty Lazzarotto represent the people of South America.
reviewed
-
L
Theatro Municipal
São Paulo’s most splendid construction, this theater was begun in 1903 in the style of Paris’ Palais Garnier. Its heavily ornamented facade seems to combine every architectural style imaginable, from baroque to art nouveau, and its interior is clad in gold and marble. The theater hosts the city’s top classical music, opera and ballet performances. At the time of research, it was undergoing a major, multiyear restoration, with no fixed date for reopening.
reviewed
-
M
Igreja de São Francisco de Assis
Igreja de São Francisco de Assis just west of the cathedral is one the best-preserved colonial structures in the city. Built in the 17th and 18th centuries, it is a classic example of Portuguese baroque. At the time of writing the church was closed for a major restoration.
Next to it is the prestigious College of LawT0CAB. Founded in 1827, it is Brazil's oldest institution of higher learning, although the current building dates to the early 20th century.
reviewed
-
N
Theatro Municipal
São Paulo's most splendid construction, the Theatro Municipal was begun in 1903 in the style of Paris' Palais Garnier. Its heavily ornamented façade seems to combine every architectural style imaginable, from Baroque to Art Nouveau, and its interior is clad in gold and marble. The theater hosts the city's top classical music and opera performances.
There are guided visits at 13:00 Tuesdays and Thursdays; reservations are required at least one day in advance.
reviewed
-
O
Avenida São Luís
Praça da República is an always-lively square a few blocks northwest of Anhangabaú that turns into an open-air market on Sundays, specializing in crafts, paintings, coins and gemstones. The area north of the square has become popular with the gay community , while to the south lies a nest of business hotels, huge office buildings and, especially along Avenida São Luís, what were once some of the city's most prestigious apartment buildings.
reviewed
-
P
Páteo do Colégio
Just up the street from Solar da Marquesa lies Páteo do Colégio that occupies the exact spot where São Paulo was founded in 1554 by Jesuit brothers José de Anchieta and Manoel da Nóbregra. The current structure is actually a 1950s replica of the monastery that once stood here, although inside it does possess a nice little collection of original relics from the city's first days. The museum's café also makes for a tranquil pit stop.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Igreja de São Francisco de Assis
Built in the 17th and 18th centuries, this church just west of the Catedral da Sé is one of the best-preserved colonial structures in the city (note that there are actually two churches adjacent to each other, each with the same name; the church to the right also dates to the 17th century but is less architecturally important). The church, a classic example of Portuguese baroque, was closed for a major restoration at the time of research.
reviewed
-
Jardim Zoológico
The Jardim Zoológico is Brazil’s largest zoo. It’s home to some 3000 animal species and is spread out over some 900 hectares, much of which is old-growth Mata Atlântica (Atlantic rain forest). As well as exhibiting caged animals, the zoo offers the Zoo Safari for an additional R$13; this is a 45-minute ride through large, fenced areas where animals are allowed to roam with relative freedom. Note that the zoo does not accept credit cards.
reviewed
-
Q
Banespa
For one of Sampa’s best panoramas, head to the top of this skyscraper, Brazil’s version of the Empire State Building, completed in 1939. Ride free to the observation deck on the top floor for views of the city. Note, you will need some form of ID to sign in. You will also have to wait in two lines, first to sign in and then to wait for an elevator to the top. Note that if lines are long, you will only get about 10 minutes at the top.
reviewed
-
R
Edifício Itália
With 46 stories, this skyscraper just south of the Praça da República, and near Av São Luís, is the tallest in the city center. Its top-floor restaurant, Terraço Italia, offers some of the best views of São Paulo, though meal prices are high and the food only passable. Strictly speaking, you’re supposed to be a customer to go there; if you’re not, act like one. Alternately, head to the bar just for a (pricey) drink.
reviewed
-
S
Shopping Light
Across Viaduto de Chá bridge lies Shopping Light, a modern, midrange mall that occupies a rather grand building once belonging to the Light English Company. There's a good food court on the 5th floor.
The 1892 Viaduto de Chá bridge and the Viaduto Santa Efigénia a little to the north date from the same era. Both of these elaborate cast-iron bridges were long synonymous with São Paulo's cultural and economic ascendancy.
reviewed
